Flow control device



Jan. 8, 1963 w. F. NELSON 3,072,145

FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS] W. F. NELSON FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Jan. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 50. 1958 INVENTOR.

Way/7e F A e/sa/z TTOR/VEVJ 3,072,145 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,072,145 FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Wayne F. Nelson, Waxahachie, Tex., assignor, by mes ne assignments, to Koehring Company, lvlilwaukee, W1s., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 732,052 6 Claims. (Cl. 137-5251) This invention relates to flow control devices and more particularly to flow control device employed in running and cementing casing in Well bores.

During successive stages of drilling, it is customary to run in and cement in place strings of casing. It is desirable to fill the casing with drilling mud fluid through the bottom end of the casing while it is being run. Filling should be done in a manner which will prevent the fluid level within the casing from reaching the top of the Well to avoid spilling of mud on the derrick floor. Mud on the derrick floor makes for slippery, dangerous working conditions, and this is particularly true when an oil based mud is being used.

After the casing is run to the desired depth, cement is pumped down through the casing and out around its bottom end. The cement flows upwardly for a considerable distance between the casing and bore hole to cement the casing in place.

It may be desirable to establish normal circulation at any time during running of the casing. Thus provision should be made for fluid flow in both directions through the casing in a manner to permit pumping of fluid downwardly through the casing, but limiting upward movement of iiuid through the casing to the desired degree.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new type of resilient valve member which will permit flow through the casing in both directions and which will remain closed to upward flow of fluid through the casing until a substantial pressure differential exists across the valve member.

Another object is to provide a flow control device for running casing in which a resilient valve member opens to permit upward flow of fluid into the casing string only upon the development of a substantial pressure differential, thus preventing the hydro-kinetic pressure developed within the Well bore during running of the casing from surging up the casing and spilling over on the derrick floor.

Another object is to provide a resilient valve member for a flow control device in which the valve member is so designed that the initial pressure differential developed across the valve tends to seal more tightly the valve against flow therethrough and in which the valve.

member opens upon increase of this pressure differential to a predetermined amount.

Another object is to provide a resilient valve member for a flow control device in which a section of one pressure face of the valve is insensitive to pressures existing on the other face of the valve member to increase thereby the pressure differential necessary to eflect opening of the valve member.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification, the claims and the drawings.

In the drawings wherein there are shown by way of illustration two embodiments of this invention and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in vertical elevation and partly in vertical cross-section through a flow control device constructed in accordance with this invention and made up in a string of easing;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the valve member when the pressure in the open hole is slightly greater than the pressure within the casing string above the valve member;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 3 when the pressure within the open hole has exceeded the pressure within the casing above the valve by a predetermined amount, and the valve member has inverted to permit flow from the open hole into the casing;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1 illustrating the shear lug and bridging ball passing through the resilient valve member;

FIGURE 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross-section through a modified form of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the resilient valve member when the pressure within the open hole is slightly greater than the pressure within the casing;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the resilient valve member when the pressure within the open hole has exceeded the pres sure within the casing by a predetermined amount to permit flow into the casing; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical crosssection illustrating the shear lug and bridging ball passing through the resilient valve member.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the flow control device is incorporated in a sub or collar 10 which is made up in a casing string 11. The box, a segment of which is shown at 12 below the sub 10, may be a running shoe or .a continuation of the casing string. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the flow control device may also be incorporated within a running shoe in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 of my co -pending application, Serial No. 686,947, filed September 30, 1957 for Flow Control Device now Patent No. 2,973,006.

The novel aspect of the valve shown in FIGURE 1 resides in the resilient valve member. The remainder of the assembly includes a back pressure valve indicated generally at 13 held in an out-of-the-way position by a shear lug 14 during running of the casing.

The back pressure valve assembly as well as the resilient running valve assembly which is indicated generally at 15 is cast in place in the sub 10 by an annulus of concrete 16 in the conventional manner. Of couse the concrete annulus and both valve assemblies are designed to be drilled up after the casing has been cemented in place. I Referring now to the flow control device 15, it is held in fixed position by the upper sleeve 17 and lower sleeve 18. These parts provide a portion of the flow-way through the device, and the valve 15 controls passage of fluid through this flow-way.

The flow control device is provided by a resilient valve member 19 which extends across the flow-way provided by sleeves 17 and 18. The resilient member is anchored in position by a section 21 which includes an annular anchoring ring 22 of rigid material. This ring is clamped between the sleeves 17 and 18 and provided with a plu rality of radial holes 23 through which the resilient material of valve member 19 extends.

A slit 24 extends through the valve member and provides for fluid flow therethrough in both directions. Preferably the slit is V-shaped for reasons which will be hereinafter explained.

The bottom face of the resilient member 19 is provided with portions which surround the slit 24 and seal off the slit when the pressure below the resilient member 19 is slightly greater than the pressure above the member 19. Preferably these portions are provided by lip means, such as lips 25 and 26, which extend along opposite sides of the apex of slit 24 and are firmly pressed together by this pressure differential, as shown in FIGURE 3. The portions or lips 25 and 26- should be spaced below the mean plane of anchoring section 21 to avoid any tendency of the initial pressure differential to open the slit. However, it is pointed out that by designing the resilient valve member in the manner shown in my above-identified copending application, the lips will work in the same manner when positioned above the anchoring section. A greater pressure differential can be obtained before the slit opens with the forms of resilient members shown in this application and, therefore, they are preferred over that shown in FIGURES 3, 6 and 8 of said co-pending application.

As the casing string is run into the well, the hydrokinetic pressure will become greater than the inherent forces of the resilient valve member and will invert the valve member in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. The inverted valve member will permit the casing to fill partially to a predetermined level which will be controlled by the design of the valve member. As soon as this predetermined amount of fill has been obtained, the pressure differential across the resilient member 19 will be reduced to a value at which the resilient member will resume the FIGURE 3 configuration. By reference to FIGURE 4 it will be noted that the V-shaped slot provides room for the lips 25 and 26 to invert and part to permit flow through the resilient valve.

In order to provide maximum pressure differential across the resilient member, means are provided for rendering a portion of the upper surface of the resilient member insensitive to the pressure below the resilient member. Preferably this is accomplished by providing a pressure chamber in the resilient member spaced axially above the anchoring section 21.

In the preferred form this chamber is provided by an annular groove 27 in the exterior periphery of the resilient member. This groove is positioned between the anchoring section 21 and a section 28 of the resilient member which slidably engages the bore through sleeve 17. The general configuration of the pressure chamber which is provided by the groove and the wall of the sleeve 17 is shown in FIGURE 1 in the undistorted position. From FIGURE 4 it will be seen that the volume of this chamber increases as the open hole pressure increases above that of the casing pressure. From FIGURE it will be noted that when pumping down through the casing, the volume of the pressure chamber is very small. This pressure chamber effectively isolates the outer annular section of the upper face of the resilient valve 19 from open hole pressure. By so doing, it permits the attainment of a greater pressure differential across the resilient valve before it inverts and permits flow from the open hole into the casing.

It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the chamber 27 is positioned in the upper section of valve member 15. There is a great deal more resilient material in the valve member below the chamber than above the chamber. As the resilient material of the valve member below the chamber 27 is anchored to the body, there will be a resistance to transmission of pressure below the valve member upwardly through the valve member. On the other hand, the column of fluid within the casing is acting on the top side of the valve member and tending to urge the valve member downwardly. As the valve member above chamber 27 has a sliding contact with the wall of the passageway, the only resistance to downward movement of the upper outer peripheral edge 28 of the valve member is provided by the inherent shear strength of the valve member transmitted to the point of anchor of the resilient material of the valve member to the flow-away. Thus it will be apparent that the upper outer peripheral portion of the valve member is free to move slidably along the flowway. When the shoe is run in the well the chamber 27 will be at atmospheric pressure. As the casing is filled, the pressure above the valve member due to the hydrostatic head of fluid in the casing will urge the upper outer peripheral section of the valve member downwardly to compress the air in chamber 27. This downward movement will continue until an equilibrium condition is obtained between the counterforce exerted by the compressed air in chamber 27 and the resistance of the rubber of the valve member to distortion.

Upon the open hole pressure becoming sufficiently greater than the casing pressure to invert the valve member, the conditions observed in FIGURE 4 will obtain. It will be noted that the pressure below the valve member is exerting a sufficiently great force to distort the valve member and move it into inverted position. In moving into inverted position, the rubber forces the upper outer sliding section of the valve member upwardly, and the chamber 27 will elongate in an axial direction, and the air previously compressed therein will have its pressure reduced. From the above it will be seen that the valve has an upper outer annular portion against which the open hole pressure does not act due to chamber 27.

Preferably annular reinforcing member 29 of rigid material overlays the pressure chamber 27 and has a portion projecting inwardly and toward the anchoring section 21 of the valve member. This reinforcing assists in transmitting the force of easing pressure acting on the outer annular ring of the resilient valve member to the remainder of the valve member.

In operation the sub or collar 10 is made up as a part of easing string 11. As the string is run in the hole, the open hole hydro-kinetic pressure will close the lips and prevent flow through the valve. At a given depth open hole pressure will be greater than the inherent forces of the resilient valve member and invert it in the manner shown in FIGURE 4 to permit fluid to flow into the easing. The inherent forces of the resilient member 1? will return it to the FIGURE 3 configuration before the column of fluid within the casing exceeds the annular fluid level. As the casing is run into the hole, the resilient member opens and closes to permit fluid to flow into the casing while maintaining the casing fluid level below the annular fluid level.

Normal circulation of drilling fluid may be commenced at any time desired. The slit 24 will readily open and permit normal circulation. After the casing reaches the desired depth, the bridging ball 31 is pumped down the casing to land on shear lug 14. The casing then may be pressured to shear pin 32 and the ball and lug pumped through the valve 15 as shown in FIGURE 5. The casing may then be cemented in place in the open hole in the conventional manner as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 through 9, a similar valve is shown except that the provision for a portion of the resilient valve member insensitive to open hole pres sure has been omitted. The modified resilient member 33 is provided with slit 34 and lips 35 and 36 which function in the manner h'ereinabove explained to control flow through the sub 10. In FIGURE 7 the resilient valve member is shown with a slight pressure differential thereacross. In FIGURE 8 the configuration of the resilient member is shown when a predetermined differential pressure has been reached and the valve inverted to permit flow from the open hole into the casing. In FIGURE 9 the bridging ball and shear lug are shown being pumped down through the valve member.

The operation of this form of the device is substantially the same as the form shown in FIGURE 1 except that the pressure differential at which the resilient valve member inverts is less than the form shown in FIGURE 1.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided a resilient valve member which is very inexpensive to manufacture and which will function to maintain the level of fluid witthin the casing string below the annular fluid level. It will be appreciated that the slit through the valve member may be designed to permit slight seepage or it may be designed to provide a seal until such time as the valve member inverts. Due to the provision of the lips, a larger pressure differential across the valve member before flow begins is possible than would be the case in a straight slit diaphragm type of valve member.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A flow control device for controlling admission of fluid into a well casing being run in a well comprising, a body having a flow-way therethrough and adapted to be made up in a string of easing, a resilient valve member extending across the flow-way and having a slit therethrough to control flow through the device, said valve member having a first section anchoring the member in the flow-way and a second section spaced axially of the flow-way from the first section and having a sliding seal with the wall of the flow-way, and an annular pressure chamber in the valve member between the first and second sections defined in part by the wall of the flow-way to provide a pressure responsive area on one side of the valve member insensitive to pressure on the other side of the valve member.

2. A flow control device for controlling admission of fluid into a well casing being run in a well comprising, a body having a flow-way therethrough and adapted to be made up in a string of easing, a resilient valve member extending across the flow-way and having a slit therethrough to control flow through the device, said valve member having a first section anchoring the member in the flow-way and a second section spaced axially of the flow-way from the first section and having a sliding seal with the wall of the flow-way, and an annular pressure chamber between the first and second sections defined in part by the wall of the flow-way to provide a pressure responsive area on one side of the valve member insensitive to pressure on the other side of the valve member, said valve memher having lip means surrounding the slit and closing to prevent flow through the slit in response to a pressure differential across the valve member with the high pressure on the lip side of the valve member, said valve member distorting to separate the lip means and open the slit to permit flow through the passageway upon increase of said pressure difierential to a predetermined value.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein an annular reinforcing member is provided in the resilient valve member on the second section side of and overlaying the pressure chamber.

4. A flow control device for controlling admission of fluid into a well casing being run in a well comprising, a body having a flow-way therethrough and adapted to be made up in a string of casing, a resilient valve member extending across the flow-way and having a slit therein to control flow through the body, said valve member having a first section anchoring the member in the flowway and a second section spaced axially of the flow-way from the first section, and an annular pressure chamber in the valve member between the first and second sections, said chamber surrounding the slit and spaced radially therefrom to provide a pressure responsive area on one side of the valve member insensitive to pressure on the other side of the valve member.

5. A flow control device for controlling admission of fluid into a well casing being run in a well comprising, a body having a flow-way therethrough and adapted to be made up in a string of casing, a resilient valve member extending across the flow-way and having a slit therein to control flow through the body, said valve member having a first section anchoring the member in the flow-way and rv second section spaced axially of the flow-way from the first section, an annular pressure chamber in the valve member between the first and second sections, said chamber surrounding the slit and spaced radially therefrom to provide a pressure responsive area on one side of the valve member insensitive to pressure on the other side of the valve member, and portions of resilient material closely surrounding the slit and spaced axially from the plane of anchorage of the valve member, said portions engaging and preventing flow through the slit upon a pressure diiferential across the valve member with the high pressure on the portion side of the valve member, said valve member distorting to separate the portions of resilient material and open the slit to permit flow through the passageway upon increase of said pressure difierential to a predetermined value.

6. A flow control device for controlling admission of fluid into a well casing being run in a well comprising, a body having a flow-way therethrough and adapted to be made up in a string of casing, a resilient valve member extending across the flow-way and having a slit therein to control how through the body, said valve member having a first section anchoring the member in the flowway and a second section spaced axially of the flow-way from the first section, and an annular pressure chamber in the valve member between the first and second sections, said chamber surrounding the slit and spaced radial- 1y therefrom to provide a pressure responsive area on one side of the valve member insensitive to pressure on the other side of the valve member, said valve member having lip means surrounding the slit which close and prevent flow through the slit in response to a pressure differential across the valve member with the high pressure on the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,588 Kennedy June 27, 1911 1,428,399 Schilling Sept. 5, 1922 2,322,631 Groeniger June 22, 1943 2,382,427 Langdon Aug. 14, 1943 2,598,002 Langdon May 27, 1952 2,674,262 Bradshaw Apr. 6, 1954 2,724,442 Mundt Nov. 22, 1955 2,894,530 Stevens July 14, 1959 

1. A FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING ADMISSION OF FLUID INTO A WELL CASING BEING RUN IN A WELL COMPRISING, A BODY HAVING A FLOW-WAY THERETHROUGH AND ADAPTED TO BE MADE UP IN A STRING OF CASING, A RESILIENT VALVE MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS THE FLOW-WAY AND HAVING A SLIT THERETHROUGH TO CONTROL FLOW THROUGH THE DEVICE, SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING A FIRST SECTION ANCHORING THE MEMBER IN THE FLOW-WAY AND A SECOND SECTION SPACED AXIALLY OF THE FLOW-WAY FROM THE FIRST SECTION AND HAVING A SLIDING SEAL WITH THE WALL OF THE FLOW-WAY, AND AN ANNULAR PRESSURE CHAMBER IN THE VALVE MEMBER BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS DEFINED IN PART BY THE WALL OF THE FLOW-WAY TO 